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Equipment arrives, at last, for Jamaican bobsledders

Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY Sports 9:51 a.m. EST February 6, 2014

Members of Jamaican Olympic team, including bobsled brakeman Marvin Dixon, third from left, and coach Paul Skog, second from left, pose with the Choir of Siberia after a welcome ceremony at the Mountain Olympic Village.(Photo: Jae C. Hong AP)

Watts confirmed the gear arrived just before midnight Wednesday, and the Jamaicans were at the track early Thursday for two practice runs.

"The first run was a little bit shaky, but when you go on a new track that's how you feel," Watts said. "You're going to feel butterflies, but you have to overcome that."

There was an additional luggage snafu, though.

"We got our clothes, but it was full of protein powder. (Security) opened the protein powder containers, and never closed the tins," Watts said. "The containers were sealed. And they left them open. In my helmet today I had protein powder going into my eyes."

Even though Watts was frustrated on Wednesday, he maintained a positive outlook. Had the equipment not arrived, he was prepared to borrow gear from another country, and the Jamaicans have a close relationship with the Canadian bobsled federation.

"There's no such word to explain how I felt being here," Watts said. "The atmosphere, the fans, the friends, you the media, it's pretty exciting. … Every moment is positive. We always keep the guys smiling. That's our motto."

While they are not medal hopefuls, Jamaican bobsledders have routinely captured attention, starting with their first Olympics in 1988 and the movie Cool Runnings, loosely based on their story and starring John Candy.

This year the Jamaicans, who are based in Wyoming, were underfunded and needed an aggressive crowdfunding campaign to make the trip. They raised nearly $130,000 and will compete in bobsled at the Olympics for the sixth time.